Alex Fitzpatrick is the surprise name at the very top of the Truist Championship heading into the final round.
Fitzpatrick, who only just earned his PGA Tour card, enters Sunday one shot ahead of Kristoffer Reitan and two ahead of Cameron Young.
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The Englishman gained status on the PGA Tour after winning the Zurich Classic of New Orleans last month alongside his brother Matt Fitzpatrick.
He is also in the field for the Truist Championship, and is in a tie for 45th place after the first three rounds.
Despite his position in the leaderboard, Matt Fitzpatrick has played a key role in his brother’s efforts at Quail Hollow.
Alex Fitzpatrick helped on the PGA Tour by having Matt Fitzpatrick around
After his third round, Alex Fitzpatrick was asked how he adjusts so quickly in terms of comfort level, and how he feels so comfortable.
He told Golf on CBS: “Having my brother around really helps. Seeing him do kind of all the things that I want to do, and I feel like I’ve been lucky enough to be there for all of his achievements.
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“So I really got a gist of kind of what it’s like to be out here and the atmosphere and just even meeting some of these guys before I even came out here.
“So I definitely think that helped adjust me. And I definitely felt more comfortable than I thought I would out there.”
Alex Fitzpatrick is making just his third start of the PGA Tour season, having finished T9 at the Cadillac Championship after his Zurich Classic title with Matt, who has won three times in 2026.
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images
Alex Fitzpatrick using Quail Hollow knowledge to his advantage
Alex Fitzpatrick does hold somewhat of an advantage over many of his fellow PGA Tour players this week, which he is certainly making the most of.
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Sharing his comfort at Quail Hollow given that he went to school nearby, he said: “Yeah, shout out to the Demon Deacons.
“There were so many Wake Forest people out there, it was amazing. Lots of chants. I think my dad said he felt like he went deaf afterwards because so many people were shouting.
“But yeah, I felt comfortable. I think we played this course a couple of times in college, so I knew the layout, I knew how it worked.
“But it plays a lot harder than it did when I played here in college. So yeah, I’m just trying to enjoy every moment, this is all so new for me so yeah I’m having a good time out there.”
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And discussing what it would mean to clinch his first PGA Tour win this week, he said: “Yeah it would be super cool.
“I’ve got goosebumps kind of thinking about it. It would be amazing to do it by myself. I really did feel like I pulled my weight at the Zurich.
“So for me it was just kind of going out, trying to play the golf I know I can and seeing what happens. And yeah, the first two weeks have been okay, so I’m pretty pleased.”
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
He can certainly be very pleased with his remarkable efforts on the PGA Tour so far, which have left many very surprised.
But getting over the line will not be an easy task, with Cadillac Championship winner Young among the players hot on his heels.
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Intriguingly, the American star also went to Wake Forest, and even overlapped one season with Fitzpatrick in 2018/19.
Read more:
Tommy Fleetwood makes comment on Alex Fitzpatrick after impressive start to PGA Tour career
How much Alex Fitzpatrick made in two PGA Tour events compared to his DP World Tour career earnings
Alex Fitzpatrick reveals what he really thought of Cam Young’s golf game when they were in college
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